Interior form for use in molding burial vaults and the like



Dec. 27,- 1949 J. s. SCHOPF 2,492,893

INTERIOR FORM FOR USE IN MOLDING BURIAL VAULTS AND THE LIKE Original Filed Feb, 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 N 9, q x T01 Snnentor Ja/m 5; 56/70 17 Dec. 27, 1949 J. 5. SCHOPF 2,492,893

INTERIOR FORM FOR USE IN MOLDING E LIKE BURIAL' VAULTS AND TH Original Filed Feb. 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m r u. m m m Patented Dec. 27, 1949 INTERZIQR FORM FOR USE IN MOLDING VAUETS AND THE LIKE John S. Schnp Spokane Wash. ()rigl'nat appi-ic-ation February 24, 1945, Serial No.

Divided and this application Septembet-13.19%. Serial No. 49,086

1 Claim.

This invention relates to. a mold. and the present application constitutes a. division from. my prior application filed February 24, 19.45,, and having Ser. Nor 579,524l

One object of the inventionv is to provide a mold including a base and an inner form so. mounted that it will be. spaced from an outer form and thus allow space between the forms to be filled with concrete which is allowed to set and form a hollow vault, or similar structure, which is then removed from the mold.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inner form consisting of companion sections which may be easily assembled or taken apart and will be firmly held together when assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mold having an inner form which is: very strong but. of light weight.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the inner form erected for use. and its outer form; partially assembled.

Fig. 2 is a view of, the form inwhich the trout end wall of the vault is formed.

Fig. 3 a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken alon the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the inner form.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

This improved mold. has a. base I formed. of sheet metal and having upstanding flanges 2 along its sides and ends, the base being held in vertical spaced relation to the ground or a table or other support by a foundation 3. A portion of the base I, midway its length and width extends upwardly to form a raised portion 4 serving to form a recess or air trap in the under face of the bottom of a vault formed in the mold. The vault is formed of concrete poured into the mold between inner and outer forms supported over the base and the forms are removed after the concrete has set and hardened.

The inner form has a bottom 5 formed of sheet metal and provided along its sides with flanges 5 and across its rear end with a similar flange l, and attention is called to the fact that these flanges extend upwardly at an inward incline. The side walls 8 of the inner form are also formed of sheet metal and have flanges 9 along their lower edges which extend inwardly at an upward incline and are parallel to the flanges 6. A suitable number of blocks, It support, the bottom. 5 in vertical spaced. relation to the upstanding central portion l of the base I and, in order to hold the flanges 6. and 9, spaced. from each other, there. have. been provided strips or barsv H which are. preferably formed of wood. These bars or strips have. extensions. 12 which project outward- 1y therefrom, near their front ends and rest against ends of a bar 13 extending under the front end of the bottom platev transversely thereof. Inwardly extending flanges [4' are formed along upper edges of the side walls and at their rear ends are formed inwardly extending end flanges t5. A cover; plate it removably rests upon the upper flanges I l and upon this cover plate rests a cross bar it which has its ends resting upon upper ends of bars l8 disposed vertica-ll i against the side walls and restingupon the outstanding tongues l2 of the bars H. The bars l3, l1 and H3 cooperate to form a channel in the front end of a vault formed of cement which sets about the inner form. A suitable number of members to are carried by the bottom plate- 5 in depending relation to its under face and form recesses in the bottom of the vault toreceive rollers upon which a coffin rests sov that it may be easily pushed into the vault. The front end of the. inner form is left open but its rear end is closed by a rear wall or plate 20 which, bears a ainst. the flanges l and, [5 of the bottom 5 and the side walls 8. This end wall. or plate 20 is of such dimensions that during dismantling of the mold it may readily fall forwardl-y and then be withdrawn from, the vault.

The outer form. is also formed of companion sections and has. side walls 2| formed of, sheet metal and having outstanding flanges 22 along their lower edges which rest upon the base and have abutting engagement with the side flanges of the base. In spaced relation to its lower end, each side wall 2| is bent to form a diagonally extending portion 23 which imparts a wide base portion to a vault formed in the mold. The upper edge portion of each side wall 2| is folded to form an outstanding upper flange 2d of double thickness and near its ends each side wall is formed with openings receiving tie rods or bolts 25 carrying nuts 26 which, when tightened, draw the side walls into flat, contacting engagement with end walls 28 and 25.

The end wall 28 is formed with an outstanding flange 30 along its upwardly curved edge and near its lower end is bent to form a sloping portion 3i cooperating with the sloping portions 23 of the side walls 2|. An outstanding flange 32 is formed along the upwardly curved upper edge of the front wall 29 and, from an inspection of Fig. 1, it will be seen that after the mold has been filled with concrete, a straight-edge scraper may be set at rest upon the flanges 30 and 32 and moved transversely of the mold from one flange 24 to the other to form the vault with a smooth upper surface which is rounded transversely, since it will follow the curvature of the flanges 30 and 32. Flanges 33 and 34 extending outwardly along lower edges of the end Walls 28 and 29 hold these walls in spaced relation to ends of the base I and so position the end walls that the bolts or rods may be passed through the openings of the side walls 2| and across outer faces of the end walls to brace the end walls against outward movement and hold the side walls firmly against the end walls.

The rear wall 28- has a portion 35 projected outwardly and defining an internal recess 36 to form an outstanding lodge across the outer face of the rear wall of the vault along the upper edge of its recess. Strips 31 which extend vertically at sides of the outer faces of the end wall 28 serve to brace this wall and its outwardly bent portion 35. The front wall 29 is formed with an opening to snugly receive the forward end portion of the inner form, as shown in Fig. 3, and this wall is preferably formed of separate strips of sheet metal, the side strips 38 having portions near their upper ends bent to form outwardly projecting recesses 39 for forming the front end of a vault with outstanding ledges corresponding to the outstanding ledge of the rear wall of the vault. Strips 40 are mounted vertically along the strips 38 to brace the same. The lower end portion of the front wall is bent to form a sloping portion 4| which cooperates with the sloping portions 23 of the side walls 2|. It will thus be seen that a vault formed in the mold will have a base portion enlarged at both its sides and ends. Since the vault will be formed with outstanding ledges upon its end walls, a sling may be engaged about the vault and the vault lowered into a grave without danger of the vault slipping from the sling.

In order to form a closure for the open front end of the vault, there has been provided an auxiliary mold 42 formed of sheet metal and having marginal walls of such depth that when the mold is filled with concrete and the concrete sets and hardens, a closure will be formed of a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the walls of the vault. This mold 42 has its wall 43 formed with an outwardly projecting portion 44 4 defining an internal recess 45 in which a ledge is formed for cooperating with the ledges formed in the recesses 39 of the end wall 29.

When the improved mold is in use, it is set up as shown in Fig. 1, with the inner form resting upon the blocks I0 and the walls of the outer form resting upon the base I. The front end portion of the inner form fits through the front wall of the outer form with the tongues 12 bearing against the inner surface of wall 29 and, when the rods 25 are applied and the nuts 26 tightened, the elements of the mold will be held firmly in engagement with companion elements. The inner and outer forms are held in predetermined spaced relation to each other and the space between these forms is filled with concrete which is allowed to set and harden. The rods '25 are then removed to release the walls of the outer form and allow them to be taken apart and the side walls and bottom of the inner form may then be easily withdrawn from the molded vault. When the side walls and the bottom of the inner form are withdrawn from the vault the rear wall will tilt forwardly so that it may be grasped and withdrawn and the top [6 then easily withdrawn. Rollers may then be set in recesses formed in the bottom of the vault and the vault is then ready for use. After a casket has been placed in the vault, the closure formed in the mold 42 is thrust into place and a tight joint formed with cement.

What is claimed is:

A mold of the character described including an inner form comprising a top and a bottom and side walls and a rear end wall, the bottom and side walls of the inner form having adjoining edge portions formed with inwardly extending diagonally disposed flanges, spacer strips between said flanges having outwardly 'projecting tongues adjacent their front ends, bars extending across the bottom and vertically along the side walls with their ends abutting said ,tongues, and the side Walls having flanges along/their upper edges upon which the top rests and flanges along their rear ends against which thej'rear wall bears.

JOHN s. SCHOPF.

REFE BENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

